The George E. Killian Award of Excellence has been awarded annually since 2006 to individuals that have demonstrated the ideals of voluntarism, achievement, service, leadership and excellence as exemplified by its namesake. Only active Region Directors, Assistant Region Directors, Coaches Association Presidents, Presidential Representatives and Officers are eligible for consideration with a minimum of two years of national service to the NJCAA. George E. Killian was one of the most influential leaders in the history of the Association. He served as the ninth NJCAA President from 1967-69 and was then hired by its board of directors as the first NJCAA Executive Director in 1969. Killian led the organization to many triumphs, including the establishment of the Association's women's division - which was revolutionary when it was enacted in 1975. During his tenure the NJCAA flourished from a basketball-centered organization to the second-largest intercollegiate athletic association in the country. After 35 years of leadership and service, Killian retired from the NJCAA in 2004.
George E. Killian Award of Excellence Recipients
| Year | Name | Position | College/Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Tommy Stewart | Region 21 Board of Regents | Holyoke (MA) |
| Mary Young | Senior Women's Administrator | Central Comunity College-Columbus (NE) | |
| 2022-23 | Kristen Schuth | Region 3 Women's Director | Genesee (N.Y.) |
| Troy Tucker | Region 19 Board of Regents | Northampton (P.A.) | |
| 2021-22 | Jo Ann Rogers | Region 20 Women's Director | Prince George's (MD) |
| Dan Johnson | Region 9 Men's Director | Southeast (NE) | |
| 2020-21 | Tom Shaw | Region 12 Men's Director | Kellogg (M.I.) |
| Nick Schroeder | Region 10 Women's Director | Catawba Valley (N.C.) | |
| 2019-20 | Dr. Dan Kinney | Presidential Advisory Council | Iowa Central |
| Bobby Hudson | Region 7 Men's Director | Volunteer State (Tenn.) | |
| 2018-19 | Lind Hartsell | Region 10 Men's Director | NJCAA Region 10 |
| Dr. Margaret McMenamin | Presidential Advisory Council | Union County College (N.J.) | |
| 2017-18 | Mick McDaniel | NJCAA President | Tompkins Cortland (N.Y.) |
| Michelle Ivey | Region 22 Women's Director | Marion Military (Ala.) | |
| 2016-17 | Art Becker | Region 1 Men's Director | Scottsdale (Ariz.) |
| Darren Pannier | Region 16 Women's Director | State Fair (Mo.) | |
| 2015-16 | Marci Henry | 1st Vice President | Northeastern (Colo.) |
| Kerri-Ann McTiernan | Region 15 Women's Director | Nassau (N.Y.) | |
| 2014-15 | Thom McDonald | Region 11 Men's Director | Iowa Community College Athletic Conference |
| Scott Barlow | Region 12 Women's Director | Lakeland (Ohio) | |
| 2013-14 | Rod Lovett | Region 24 Men's Director | Parkland (Ill.) |
| Norma Carr | Region 18 Women's Director | Salt Lake (Utah) | |
| 2012-13 | Norma Dycus | 1st Vice President | Sinclair (Ohio) |
| John Erwin | Presidential Representative | Illinois Central | |
| 2011-12 | Dean Myrick | Region 22 Men's Director | Alabama Community College Athletic Conference |
| Donna Genova | Region 15 Women's Director | Bronx (N.Y.) | |
| 2010-11 | David Elder | Region 17 Men's Director | Georgia College Athletic Association |
| Carl Heinrich | Region 6 Women's Director | Johnson County (Kan.) | |
| 2009-10 | Greg Silcox | Region 1 Men's Director | Paradise Valley (Ariz.) |
| Tim Drain | Region 14 Women's Director | Tyler (Texas) | |
| 2008-09 | Gary Huber | Region 4 Men's Director | Black Hawk - East (Ill.) |
| Susan Sinclair | Region 24 Women's Director | Illinois Central | |
| 2007-08 | Brian Farrell | Region 20 Men's Director | CCBC Catonsville (Md.) |
| Kathy Feldman | Region 3 Women's Director | Alfred State (N.Y.) | |
| 2006-07 | John Kuntz | Region 19 Men's Director | Sussex County (N.J.) |
| Bryce Roderick | Region 6 Women's Director | Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference | |
| 2005-06 | Bob Zelinski | Region 8 Men's Director | Central Florida |
| Berdy Kuiken | Region 4 Women's Director | South Suburban (Ill.) |